Ethnoecology, Resource Use, Conservation And Development In A ...

forests of the Rupununi River itself form the eastern boundary of the north savannah.
The south savannah is bounded on the east by the forests of the Kwitaro river basin,
while east of there the Rewa and Upper Essequibo rivers also lie within the region. The
southern border of the savannah is formed by the forests of the Rupununi
headwaters and the Kujuwini river, south of which lie the Kassikaityu and Upper
Takutu, the latter forming part of Guyana's south-western border with Brazil.
The reasons for the existence of the savannah are unclear and it appears not to
have any simple explanation, but rather to be the current historical manifestation of a
complex interaction of climatic, edaphic, biotic and anthropic factors (Hills 1973:
353-6). Five distinct vegetation types have been recognised, ranging from entirely
herbaceous savannah to closed savannah woodland. In terms of area, herbaceous
savannah and open savannah woodland are most widespread among these. The
dominant species is the grass Trachypogon plumosus, which is found in association
with numerous less abundant species of grasses, sedges, forbs and herbs. The
dominant woody species is the ‘sandpaper tree’ or cayambi, Curatella americana,
and species of Byrsonima of tree, shrub and herbaceous habit are also common (Hills
1973: 359-60).
This chapter provides background information on the Wapishana people, one of
the four distinct indigenous groups resident in Region 9 and the tribe of which the
people with whom this thesis is concerned are members. I will first relate significant
aspects of the situation regarding economic development in the region. The next
section gives an account of the recorded history and present-day circumstances of
the Wapishana people in Guyana. These two themes are integrated in the final
section, which is concerned with local attitudes and responses to the changing
situation in which these people find themselves.
3.1 Environment and Economics in the Rupununi
3.1.1 Environmental constraints on economic development in the Rupununi
The economic potential of the savannahs is severely limited by both climatic and
edaphic characteristics. In both savannahs and the adjacent forests the annual rainfall
cycle is strongly unimodal, up to 80 percent of a fairly variable annual total, averaging
around 1800 mm., falling at the height of the rainy season between May and August.
The result of this is a severe hydrological imbalance, typical years alternating
between extensive flooding, particularly of the southern savannahs, and widespread
desiccation and local water shortages at the height of the dry season (Loxton 1958: